Yes, a helmet is mandatory, for driver and passenger. But the bar is lower than most people think: a normal, undamaged motorcycle or car helmet is fine, you do not need a special race or track day helmet. This page shows you how to get one if you do not have one yet, and what else you actually need.
A helmet is mandatory for everyone in the car, driver and passenger alike, at every one of our dates. This is not a suggestion. The good news is that the bar is low: a normal, undamaged motorcycle or car helmet is completely fine, you do not need a special race or track day helmet.
No helmet? In the race taxi we always provide the helmet, all you need is a balaclava: bring your own or buy one from us on site. If you are driving your own car, tell us in advance and we will sort it out together. The exact details for your date are in your personal pre-event info.
If you do not have a helmet yet, here is our experience from running these days, not a certification requirement. There are roughly three types, each with its own trade-offs:
The fully enclosed helmet with a fixed chin bar, the classic image of a helmet. Closed all round, good wind and noise protection at speed. In return it is a bit snugger to put on, and you take it off completely to talk or drink.
The chin bar flips up, handy for a quick chat or a break without taking the whole helmet off. The hinge usually makes it a bit heavier than a comparable full-face helmet.
Also called a jet helmet: airy and the quickest to put on. In return your chin and face stay uncovered, more the exception than the rule on a track day.
More important than the type is the fit: the helmet should sit snugly, with no pressure points and no play when you shake your head. Best to try it on properly in a shop, no catalogue picture or online size chart replaces that.
We would steer clear of a used helmet with an unclear history or visible cracks and dents, that kind of bargain is not worth it. After a hard crash a helmet is widely considered done among drivers, regardless of any certification.
Certifications such as ECE, FIA or Snell exist and can be required in certain motorsport series. For our track days we do not require any of them, a normal undamaged helmet is fine. If your date ever differs, it is stated in your pre-event info.
The helmet is the only mandatory item. The rest is our recommendation from experience, not a requirement:
That covers the gear, the rest of getting ready is in the full checklist in the guide Track day preparation. And if you are right at the start, Your first track day answers the basics before you book.
The same helmet rule applies to passengers as to you as the driver, whoever is coming along. If the person you want to bring does not have their own helmet: the same rule as above, tell us in advance and we will sort it out.
If you would rather ride along with no gear of your own: in the race taxi the helmet is provided for you, all you need to think about is flat, closed shoes and close-fitting clothing. About the harness: the race taxi does have a six-point harness, but it may only be used if you bring your own HANS device. Otherwise you ride buckled up normally on the standard three-point belt.
Important note on this page: This is guidance from our own experience running these events, not a manufacturer sign-off and not safety advice. The binding pre-event info for your specific date reaches you automatically before the event.
Next date is Sat 12 Sep 2026 at the Bilster Berg. All prices are listed openly on the booking page.
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